Rajasthan govt. orders judicial probe into temple stampede

Jaipur, Oct 1 (ANI): The Rajasthan Government has ordered a judicial probe into the Chamunda Devi Temple stampede in Jodhpur in which 147 were killed and over 100 were injured. According to official sources, a retired judge of Rajasthan High Court will conduct investigation and will submit his report in three months. It being the first Navratra, thousands of devotees had gathered early morning yesterday, at the temple situated on a hill top when the tragedy took place. Some of the devotees slipped on a slope causing the stampede. State Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced compensation of Rs. two lakhs for families of each of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for each of the injured. Meanwhile, President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Dr. Minister Manmohan Singh have condoled the loss of lives in the stampede. The President said that she wished early recovery of those who were injured in the tragedy. Dr. Singh has expressed shock and grief over the death of devotees in the stampede. Vice-President Hamid Ansari expressed his shock and grief at the stampede. He conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured. (ANI)